Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR: Way-too-early 2018 Driver Power Rankings

By Asher Fair

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, race during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, race during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
JOLIET, IL – SEPTEMBER 17: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
JOLIET, IL – SEPTEMBER 17: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

#7 through #5

#7. Denny Hamlin will likely back in the playoffs and in championship contention like he usually is in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season. Down the stretch this past season, Joe Gibbs Racing was the hottest team in the sport, and Hamlin was the driver who got that started by winning at New Hampshire. Had he not wrecked Chase Elliott at Martinsville, he likely would have qualified for the Championship 4 since Elliott would have had no reason to retaliate at Phoenix.. No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. DENNY HAMLIN

In just his second career NASCAR Cup Series season in 2017, Ryan Blaney nearly made it to the Championship 4 as Wood Brothers Racing’s lone driver. Now set to drive for a three-car Team Penske team in 2018, he should get the opportunity to truly reach or at least get closer to reaching his full potential, and that could truly propel him into championship contention.. No. 12. Team Penske, Ford. RYAN BLANEY. #6

Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. JIMMIE JOHNSON. #5. Prior to 2017, the last time Jimmie Johnson had a “down” year by his standards was in the 2015 season, when he finished in 10th in the final standings like he did this past season. He proceeded to bounce back and win a record-tying seventh career NASCAR Cup Series championship the following season. Even after another one of his worst career seasons in 2017, he can never be counted out.. No. 48

Home/NASCAR